[Album Review] Kanye West Presents G.O.O.D. Music-Cruel Summer

Oh, rap compilations albums.  How you sound like a terrible idea.  Having more than 3 rappers on a song is excessive: the song goes on forever, there is really no theme, and everybody brings everyone else down.  Its usually a sh*t show.  While there are exception to the rules ("Swagger Like Us") having an entire album of rap compilation, especially from an exclusive rap posse, seems extreme.  While No Limit, Young Money, and Ruff Ryders have attempted it and had successful singles, no overall album has been good.

I will be fair and say that "Cruel Summer" is a good album.  Nice variety of songs, good flow of the album, great verses.  If this wasn't now it would be a great album.  But hey, this is real life, so its not.  "Watch the Throne" has showed that great minds can think alike, and differently at the same time.

The issues of Cruel Summer aren't really all about the music.  The release was rushed (rumor has it to put out Kanye's new album 4th quarter).  It didn't come out in the summer, which would have made it a better album, not just because of the title, but its somewhat hard to get hype in September.  Not the best time to put out an album.

Musically, the album seems copy and pasted.  Each person verse don't seem to match the others, as if they weren't in the same room and they just mailed it in. "Watch the Throne" was successful because they worked on it in the same room at the same time, something that is really missing in the industry these days. Also, no one stays on topic, whatever the topic or theme is I'm not sure, but no one is on point.  Pusha always talks about drugs and violence, 2 Chainz is always talking great stuff, except it has nothing to do with the topic at hand, Kanye West is always talking about himself, and Big Sean seems to be the foundation of the songs.  While he does hold his own, it is a bit unfair for him to have to hold up the entire group.  The production is kinda of weird too.  Usually when Kanye has a verse the beat changes of if his verse is so epic...but it isn't.  The best song "Creepers" is actually a solo song of Kid Cudi's.  Another dissapoining thing is that you've already heard most of the album this summer.  While I'm glad there was no deluxe edition (it seems unfair to seperate work just for an extra buck) the album just seems like remnants from a fantastic feast.  It gets you excited for what's to come, but its just the bread before the meal.  You're still really hungry and thirsty.

Favorite cuts: "Clique" "Creepers"